Balanced rotary valve.



G. L. SCHOFIELD.

BALANCED ROTARY VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, I915- 1 1 86,848 Patented June. 13, 1916.

lyj 3 a? o 4/ l A: a I! i /4 5191 Fig J8 .35 .3

1H 57 H Hm I /7 4/ N /28 25 Z jig, X I 7 U 2 GEORGE L. SCHOFIELD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BALANCED ROTARY VALVE.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J line 13, 1916.

Application filed September 14, 1915. Serial No. 50,685.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. SGHOFIELD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at 7 Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balanced Rotary Valves; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a rotary valve for explosive engines, and has for its principal object to provide a rotary valve wherein the impact occasioned by explosionof gas within an engine cylinder is balanced to obviate uneven pressure and strain on the valve and its inclosing' parts. In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of an exemplification of an explosive engine in which my improved valve may be used. Fig. II is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. III is a transverse vertical 'section on the line IIIIII, Fig. II. Fig.

IV is a detail erspective view of the rotary valve. Fig. is a perspective view of a retaining collar in the delivery end of the valve housing. Fig. VI is adetail perspecgive view of the valve balancing cup or thim- Referring more in detail to the parts:- 1 designates an explosive engine of an ordinary vertical type and is here shown merely to facilitate the illustration of my improvements, and with the understanding that the valve may be combined in a horizontal engine, vertical engine, or other types of ex-- plosive engines.

The engine 1 comprises a cylinder 2, wherein charges of fuel are exploded, and a valve housing 3 containing mechanism for controlling the passage of fuel to the cylinder, the compression andignition of the charge and exhaustion of the burnt or spent gases at proper intervals The specific construction ofthe housing 3 comprises interior chambers 5 and 6 of different diameter,.the-large chamber being V at the outer end of the housing and having an annular seat 7 on account of the difference in diameter between the two chambers.

Rev0lubly mounted within the smaller chamber 5 is a rotary valve 9, having a port 11 therein adapted for independent communication with .theintake and exhaust ports 12-13, that extend through the hous-- ing 3 to the chamber-5 from therespective intake and exhaust conduits 14-15 that are fed from a suitable carbureter and may deliver through a suitable mufiler, not shown.

The valve 9 has an integral base 17 that closes its outer end and forms a cup-shaped structure that fits snugly within the chamber 5 to obviate the escape of gas or vapor between the rotating or valve ring and the inner surface of the housing and obviates the necessity forstufling boxes or packing rings, the base of the cup being spaced from the base of the housing by a neck or bur 18 on the cup base that projects outwardly and engages the cover.

Seated within the valve 9 is a cup 23 having intake and exhaust ports 24 25 adapted for communication with the intake and exhaust ports 1213 in the valve housing through the valve port 11, when the latter is brought to proper position, and having a balance port 26 opposite the intake and exhaust ports, the intake and exhaust ports 2425 being preferably arranged longitudinally of the cup'lO. and the balance port circumferentially therein in order that the balancing pressure may be extended over a greater circumferential area of the valve, it being apparent that as the intake and exhaust ports are located adjacent each other, the single balancing port may be located diametrically opposite the intake and exhaust ports, so that expansion of gases within the retainin collar 31, which is preferably formed mtegral-with a cap 32 that may be .the joint. The cup 23 is held in place by a chamber into the interior of the cylinder 2.

In order to properly lubricate the valvej23, I provide a port 37 in its base end, which communicates with the housing chamber 19 to allow lubricant to pass from the chainher to the interior of the valve and about the cup 23. g

A spark plug 38 is located in any suitable position on the engine for performing the usual function in proper sequence relative to the intake and exhaust.

In order torotate the valve 9 in proper synchronism with the sparking mechanlsm, I provide a shaft 39, which is revolubly mounted in a bearing boss on the end of the housing and is fixed at its inner end in the hub 18 of the valve ring 9; the outer end of the shaft being provided with a drive wheel 41 whereby the shaft may be driven from suitable mechanism that may be actuated from the crank shaft of the engine that is served by the valve.

In assembling the parts, the rotary valve may be first installed by removing the drive .wheel and forcing the valve into the inner chamber of the housing, so that the shaft 39 projects through its bearing. With the valve in place the cup is dropped into the valve chamber with its annular flange restmg on the packing ring and the cap, with its collar, is next installed, so that the dowelpins on the valve cup project into the sockets in the inner end of the collar. With the parts so arranged and operatively connected with the engine driving mechanism, the valve cup is held against rotation, while rotationv of the shaft 39 will rotate the valve ring, so that communication is established at proper intervals between the intake and exhaust ports; the operation in this respect being that of any ordinary explosive engme, except as to the method of securing the communications by the rotary member instead of the usual puppet valves.

With a construction of this character,

were the cup 23 closed except for the intake and exhaust ports, when a charge would be exploded in the cylinder the explosion of each charge would exert a pressure through the cup ports against the rotary valvering, which would tend to drive the ring outwardly and thereby exert a retarding contact of the ring on the inner face of the housing, and as the presence of the intake and exhaust ports in alinement with the like ports in the valve cup would aflord no backing for the rotary ring at such points, there would be a tendency to force the ring to wear out of shape,'particularly after repeated explosions. In order, however, to balance the pressure on the valve ring, I have provided the balance port in the valve cup, so that when each charge is exploded the pressure in the cup is relieved equally on opposite sides of the rotary ring and such uneven retarding pressure is eliminated, the circumferential arrangement of the balance pin extending the impact of the expansion about the valve ring to obviate excessive pressure along any limited longitudinal area.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is 2- 1. A valve comprising relatively stationary and movable members, having ports adapted for communication at proper intervals, and. one having a separate balancing port, whereby pressure on the other member, due to an exploded charge, is balanced, substantially as set forth. 7

2. A rotary valve comprising relatively stationary and movable members, having ports adapted for communication at proper intervals, and one having a balancing port extending transversely relative to the first named ports.

3. A rotary valve comprising a housing having separate intake and exhaust ports, a stationary member-having separate intake, exhaust and balance ports, and a rotary member interposed between the stationary member and the housing, and having a single port adapted for separate communicagion with the ports in the stationary mem- 4. A rotary valve comprising a housing having intake and exhaust ports, a valve member containedwithin the housing and having intake and exhaust ports adapted for communication with the housing ports, and having an opposite balance port, a sleeve rotatably mounted between said valve member and the inner face of the housing, and having a port adapted for establishing communication between the housing and valve member, and means for rotating said member.

5. A rotary valve comprising a housing,

closed at one end and having intake and exhaust ports, and having a lubricant port in its closed end, a valve member rotatably 'mounted within the housing and having a haust ports, a stationary valve member in- 6. A rotary valve comprising a housing, closed at one end and having intake and exrotary member having a., channel leading therethrough from'the oil cup, for supplying lubricant to the members, substantially as set forth.

7. A rotary valve comprising a housing having a closed end and having intake and exhaust ports, a valve member fixedly mounted within thehousing in spaced relation thereto and having intake and exhaust ports in alinement with the intake and exhaust ports in the housingya valve member rotatably mounted between the fixed valve member and the housing and havinga closed end, provided with an outwardly projecting hub for spacing the same from the base of the housing to forma chamber, the said rotatable member'having a valve port in 1ts side walland a lubricant port in its closed end and the'housing having a lubricant con-- duit opening-to said chamber.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 0 in'presence of two witnesses.

GEO. L. SCHOFIELD.

Witnesses: I

H. GLEN BALDWIN, BnowN. 

